3 Opposition Leaders in 3 years for HoA
Following the General Elections of 2015 that saw the Virgin Islands Party (VIP)—headed at the time by Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3)—only winning 2 seats out of 13, after the Election, there was a fight over the post of Opposition Leader, between Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) and Mr Fraser.
The Governor appointed Hon Fraser on July 21, 2015, a month after the General Elections. The next year the VIP had an internal Congress Election and replaced Hon Fraser with Hon Fahie as the Party Chairman.
Fahie took over from Fraser
The VIP then wrote the Governor with the changes and requested that Hon Fahie be named the Opposition Leader. The Governor agreed and appointed Hon Fahie on February 6, 2017.
Then in November 2018, three members of the National Democratic Party (NDP)—two ministers being fired and the other member resigning from the party—crossed the floor.
They now had a majority with their breakaway group called the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM), headed by Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) and they made a request for Hon Skelton to be Leader of the Opposition.
Hon Skelton took over from Fahie
On December 22, 2018, Hon Skelton was appointed the most recent Opposition Leader making him the third such Leader of the Opposition within 3 years.
The HoA will resume a Sitting on Friday, December 28, 2018, and it will be the first time Mr Skelton will be at the helm, as its new Opposition Leader.
The countdown is on for the body to be dissolved, paving the way for a new General Elections that must be held before April 16, 2019.
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